News from the Crater
During my 30 day stay at the crater of Ol Doinyo Lengai I will document what it's like to make a temporary home on one of the world's most active volcanoes. I will try to update this page by sending handwritten notes down with climbers who reach the crater during my stay. I will ask that they send my note as an email as soon as possible after they reach Arusha, Tanzania. The email will be received in the U.S. and posted below. The postings may also include comments by the person who relays the message. The updates compiled below will generally be in chronological order. Some gaps and repetition may occur since not all messages may be delivered and other messages may repeat previously posted news. The most recent postings will appear at the bottom of the page.
June 25: Expedition members from The Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, England, and the USA are now gathering in Arusha, Tanzania. On June 27 we will travel in three 4x4 cars to the remote Masaai village of Engare Sero, 10 km from Ol Doinyo Lengai. On June 28 we will arrange porters and pack supplies. We plan to climb to Lengai's crater during the early morning hours of June 29.
I met Fred Belton at Lake Natron on June 29, and spoke with him subsequently in the crater of Ol Doinyo Lengai the morning of June 30. The following is a message from Fred:
June 29: We arrived in the crater of Lengai in stormy conditions, strong wind and blowing dust. There is a small active lava lake in T8B, and a flank vent on the south side of the T58/T56 complex has erupted large lava splashes and formed thin "aa" lava flows.-F.Belton
July 1: There has been no eruption since the morning of June 30, however, vigorously sloshing lava can be seen in the T58B lava lake. Last night incandescent gas was visible above it. Weather has improved, but still some wind and fog. We have made a camp and cooking area in the eastern part of the active crater, and 4 of the group are camping in the inactive south crater. - F. Belton
On July 1 activity was very low, but at about 8.45 pm a large lava platform of about 50 square meter (about 400 square feet) collopased into a huge lava inside cone T58B.
At around 6 am on 2 July an eruption began at previously active vetn on T56B.
-F. Belton
There was strong activity all day on July 4th. The cone on the the end of t58 had several small collapses of its vent area, sending torrents of lave to the north. At times people had to run to escape them. Also the t49 G erupted many times. the lava from it was very fluid and flowed like water. Pahoehoe lava flowed into a crack in the crater rim and exited on the NW flank of Lengai. We could not see how far the lava flowed down the flank. On the night of July 4th there were jets from T58 B and then there were very fast lava flows from the new vent on t58B. Activity ended by 0600 5 July. I (Fred) is short on water and have sent a message down to have the porters bring more up. I (Fred) have more than enough food. Living conditions are dirty. On July 5th there was no activity all day.
The following message from F.Belton was received from Pieter Blaton:
July 9: There have been no eruptions since the night of July 6, when lava flowed from the lake in T56B.I am now camped alone in the active crater in a location safe from lava flows and rock falls from the crater rim. I have plenty of food and water. The main problem is two fearless crows that keeping trying to steal food from the camp.
Yesterday a troop of baboons ran across the crater floor. I often see small antelopes called Klipspringers.
"July 11: Activity remains at a low level with no significant eruption since night of July 6. A slight overflow of the T56B lava lake occured this morning between 7 and 8 am. I have plenty of food and water." FRED
July 13: At about 07:15 today an eruption began at T58B, with strombolian activity
and a small lava flow down the SE side of the cone. Lava lake in T56B is calm.
As I write this, the T58B activity is increasing in its intensity. The upper part of the
cone has just collapsed and blocks are rolling down the flank.
On July 15 at 15:10 a new vent formed in the central crater, producing huge lava flows over the eastern half of the crater. I was forced to move my camp to the south crater.
"The new vent that formed on July 15 is now a vigorous lava lake.The new vent is located on the E side of T58B. Probably it will be designated T58C." -F.Belton
July 21: The new vent, T58C, that formed on July 15, first became a lava lake and is now becoming a spatter cone. It is overflowing and spattering often. On July 14 there were strong ash explosions in T58B and some collapse of a section of the cone.
July 30: Am down from Lengai and back in Arusha. The last few days there was weak to moderate activity from T49G and T58B. On the last two nights a leopard was roaming the crater, making loud chuffing noises and coming to within 6 feet of the tents. A group of three including Celia Nyamweru was camping with me for the last 3 nights.